How the OWC method helped me to get beautiful long hair
What is the OWC method and why is it good for your hair?
The OWC method is a hair care routine using oil as a pre-shampoo treatment. OWC stands for “oil-wash-condition”. According to the OWC method, oil is first applied in the lenghts and on the ends. After letting sit the oil for a while, the hair is washed as usually with a shampoo, finishing off with a conditioner. This method protects hair from shampoo and water. When hair gets wet, its cuticles swell and it becomes more prone to damage, such as split ends and breakage. Shampoo has a drying effect on hair. The oil protects the hair from the shampoo as well as the water. As a result, the hair will be shinier, less frizzy and overall healthier. Since a few years, I religiously practice the OWC methode before every hair wash. Since then, I barely experience any breakage anymore. Split ends are a thing of the past and my hair allover looks shinier and healthier. As an alternative to oil, a conditioner or a hair mask do the same job.
How to apply the OWC method?
Practicing the OWC method is very easy. Just generously apply oil on dry hair, concentrating on the lengths and the ends. I personally like to include my scalp in order to nourish it and promote hair growth. Therefore, I start by massaging the oil into my scalp, spreading it from there to the lenghts and paying extra attention to my ends. Warming the oil before applying helps for better distribution. I dip my fingers into the liquid oil and gently massage my scalp. If you are in a hurry, letting the oil sit for a few minutes is enough. For deeper care, I sometimes wait an hour or more (even over night). In the meantime, I do chores or I put my hair in a bun and go jogging.
Afterwards, wash the hair as usual. Actually, “washing hair” is wrong because we should wash our scalps, not our hair. The main purpose of shampoo is getting the scalp clean. When rinsing out the shampoo, the suds running through the lenghts are enough to get hair clean. Because I use sticky oils on my hairs, I usually wash twice to get the oil out. After shampooing, condition the lenghts and ends.
What oils to use?
Any oil does the job, such as argan oil, jojoba oil, almond oils or oils you can find in the kittchen, e.g. olive oil or - my favorite - coconut oil. Scientific studies proved that coconut oil not only creates a protecting barriere around hair but that it actually penetrates the hair, repairing damage from the inside, preventing split ends and breakage. To promote hair growth, I add some drops of castor oil as well as rosemary oil to my coconut oil, which I massage into my scalp. Using all three oils in combination gave me some really good results. Castor oil and rosemary oil should not be used pure but with a carrier oil. Coconut oil makes a great carrier oil because it is light and easy to wash out. You just have to try and experiment what works best for your hair and scalp. Just check before for possible allergic reactions to the oils you intend to use.
My experiences with the OWC method
Since I started oiling my hair and my scalp before washing it, my hair got much nicer, shinier and healthier. I hardly have any split ends or breakage since I apply my mix of oils as a pre-wash treatment. Since I started to use rosemary oil on my scalp, my hair grows faster. Coconut protects hair from drying out, also when swimming in the sea. Thanks to coconut oil, my hair survives any beach holiday without any damage. In winter, my ends are less dry and frizzy. Also my scalp feels great: no dandruff, no itches and - surprise, surprise - since I oil my scalp before washing, it does not get oily as fast as it used to.